If you activate Google’s “Off-the-Record” feature in Hangouts, then even the fact that you were chatting at all will be difficult to prove.

The great thing about the applications below (in addition to their stellar security credentials) is that unlike other apps, you’ll still be able to access all of your usual contacts and your friends can still find you as well.

Combine this with a robust OTR application like Chat Secure, Adium or Pidgin, and you’ve got a conversation that really stays between you and your conversation partner.

This post is the first in a series by the Tow Center offering detailed video walkthroughs of how to configure and use more private communication tools to connect and share information both personally and professionally.

The second video shows how you can do the same for desktop chat by installing the OTR (Off-the-Record) application Adium on your Apple computer or Pidgin on your Windows machine.